The Dodge Durango Citadel: A Fortress on Wheels

byConor SnellonJanuary 25, 2016

For some drivers, anything less than the biggest, badest vehicle on the road is simply not enough. These are the proud SUV owners; the consumers who eschew the efficiency and sportiness of smaller models in favor of the roomy spaciousness and pure raw power of a massive four-wheel-drive behemoth. For these proud few in need of a true fortress to call their own, there exists the Dodge Durango Citadel.

Built to tower over the other meager peons zipping around your wheelbase, the Durango Citadel is born to dominate the road and leave your passengers – as well as other drivers and pedestrians on the sidewalk – in awe as you rumble by. Whether you’re piloting a Dodge Durango in Miami or in Moscow, your dominance on the road will be unmistakable.

If you’re looking for a massive upgrade to something really worth commanding, consider upgrading the head of your fleet to the Durango Citadel – if you think you can handle everything it brings to the table.

Style Fit For A King – Or Queen

These days, the term “modern SUV” has come to mean a lot of things, not the least of which being an expectation of bold, premium styling. For those who want an SUV that screams “weekend warrior” louder than it screams “soccer mom,” the Durango is here to answer your prayers – and the Durango Citadel is here to completely annihilate them.

Boasting an unparalleled bold design accented with striking and defined features like an LED headlamp, impressive 20-inch polished aluminum wheels and the Dodge LED racetrack tail lamp made famous on the iconic Charger, the Citadel is the ultimate intimidation machine with a touch of class. Plus, dual chrome-tipped exhaust only helps add to that feeling of premium detail.

A new signature crosshair grille helps add to the Citadel’s imposing front fascia, while premium accents like available heated side mirrors and available roof rack system make any drive as easy can be. Those looking for added premium features can also opt for the Chrome Appearance Group package by Mopar, which features a Bright Pedal Kit, Chrome Tubular Side Steps, and Front and Rear Door Entry Guards by Mopar.

Like any great castle, the Citadel is also a comfortable space to occupy, with seating for seven and up to 84.5 cubic feet of cargo space and two rows of folding seats to fit just about any gear (read: cannons, cauldrons of boiling oil, etc.) you might need to bring with you. This means you’ll be comfortable even on long trips – which the Citadel is undoubtedly capable of handling with ease.

Performance Like A Strong Army

Just as any King or Queen can rely on the might of their noble steed when charging into battle, so too can the Durango owner rely on their Citadel to power through any tough drive, whether it be a regular morning commute or a cross-country road trip, with ease and efficiency.

That’s thanks to the Citadel’s standard award-winning 3.6L Pentastar V6 engine, capable of an impressive 290 horsepower and 260 lb.-ft of torque for a best-in-class towing capacity of 6,200 lbs, complete with trailer sway control for total safety when hauling heavy loads. The Durango also splits the engine up front and the drive axle in the rear for balanced driving and 50/50 weight distribution. This system shifts weight to the rear drive axle during acceleration to improve traction and increase downforce for easier driving on slippery surfaces. Thanks to an eight-speed automatic transmission and VariableValve Timing technology, this standard engine can pump out an impressive 25 miles per gallon for the rear-wheel drive model and 24 miles per gallon for all-wheel drive.

Or, for those looking for the roar of some serious engine power under the hood, there’s the immensely powerful 5.7L Hemi V8 engine, capable of a whopping 360 horsepower and 39 lb.-ft of torque and an impressive best-in-class fuel economy f 23 miles per gallon. For that much power, you’ll be hard pressed to find as roomy a model with that high a fuel economy to boot.

Amenities That Rival A Royal Court

To the driver, the Citadel is a veritable mobile castle – making you, the driver, the king or queen of that castle, and like any good monarch you demand entertainment on the road. And while your Citadel is more than capable of keeping you plenty entertained on the road, that does not make it a fool. In fact, you’ll be surprised at how intelligently designed and crafted the Citadel proves to be on the road, thank to its wide array of tech and comfort amenities.

A standard 8.4-inch touchscreen display comes with everything from integrated navigation to Voice Texting, plus a wide array of connectivity features including MP3 connectivity through USB ports and music streaming services available through the Wi-Fi Hotspot technology. A driver-selectable shift knob adds a unique and refined touch to an already luxurious interior, complete with Lux-Leather trimmed bucket power seats with integrated heating and ventilation in the front and second rows.

Scattered power outlets throughout the cabin, the power sunroof, and the amazing three-zone climate control in the cabin keep all of your passengers plenty comfortable for long days on the road. Citadel drivers can also expect a year of SiriusXM Radio Service and 5 years of SiriusXM Traffic and Travel Link Services to make sure you know exactly where your fortress is headed at just about any crossroad. Plus, with standard HD radio and an available rear dual DVD-player, you can keep all of your passengers happy and entertained seamlessly on extended trips.

Safety, Thy Name Is Citadel

Just as a proper citadel is meant to be a protective fortress for the most valuable members of feudal society, so too should your Citadel protect those most important to your life. That’s why Dodge has fully outfitted this impressive SUV with the latest and greatest safety tech to keep you and all your passengers safe on the road.

In order to nip most incidents in the bud before they even happen, Dodge has even outfitted this massive machine with some pretty impressive crash prevention technology, including Adaptive Cruise Control that can detect the car ahead and brake automatically if need be, or Back Up Assistance which can make pulling into or out of tight parking spots a breeze, even on busy roads. These systems each utilize an array of radar sensors to accurately and audibly alert you to dangers on the road and even react automatically when you cannot.

And, in the event that the unthinkable occurs and an accident does happen, Citadel passengers can be safe in the knowledge that the high strength steel frame with crumple zones, adaptive headrests to protect from whiplash, and seven advanced airbags with an inflatable kneepad to keep the driver safely positioned all help mitigate the worst damage. This keeps everyone inside as safe as possible during a collision, while the Enhanced Accident Response System further secures the vehicle by unlocking the doors, cutting the fuel supply and activating the hazard lights automatically after a crash. For a mighty SUV, the Citadel truly is a protective fortress on wheels.

If you’ve been looking for a good castle to call your own on the road, with everything from safety to entertainment covered in the fullest, then look no further than the amazingly impressive 2016 Dodge Durango Citadel. And, with an MSRP starting at just $40,995, you don’t have to be the ruler of a country to afford one – but you may just feel like one after yu slip into the driver’s seat.